Tropes, omissions and flaws in the coverage of US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Plus, WhatsApp in India.

From this Episode

On The Listening Post this week: The tropes, omissions, and narrative flaws in the coverage of US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Also, why WhatsApp rumours can be fatal in India.

Covering Trump's Jerusalem move

When President Donald Trump announced last week that the US was recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the international media were quick to fall back on cliche narratives - focusing on the potential for violence while doing little to explain the root causes of Palestinians' anger.

"US media and international media, in general, has constantly and incessantly taken international voices over that of Palestinians. It strips agency of Palestinians and it helps in the denial of the existence of Palestinians," says writer Mariam Barghouti. "This comes from not giving us a voice. It comes from stripping our fate and putting in the hands of analysts or experts that are internationals, that do not live here that do not experience the consequences of Israeli oppression."